Chapter 5
The Fire That Followed Me Home.
The wheels hadn’t even stopped turning on the tarmac before Kylee felt the weight of her life in Idaho pressing against her chest. The buzz of the weekend clung to her like humidity thick, electric, and impossible to shake. But here, back home, it was all fluorescent lights and polite smiles.
Jake was waiting outside the terminal with the kids. Balloons bobbed in little Jake Jr.’s hands, and Macy was jumping up and down, waving a homemade sign that said Welcome Home, Mommy! The sight made Kylee's throat tighten, not with joy but guilt.
“Surprise!” Jake said as she stepped through the sliding glass doors. He leaned in for a kiss, brushing her cheek instead when she subtly turned her head. “We’ve got a party waiting at home. Just us, pizza, cupcakes, and your favorite wine.”
Kylee smiled softly, touched by the kids' excitement, if not entirely by her husband’s attempt at domestic charm. “You guys didn’t have to do all that.”
“We wanted to!” Macy shouted. “Daddy even let us eat icing straight from the spoon!”
Jake chuckled. “I figured we’d bend the rules a little. You’ve been gone, three whole days!”
Three days. It felt like a lifetime.
The drive home was filled with chatter and Taylor Swift blasting through the speakers.
Jake kept glancing at her like he was searching for something forgiveness maybe, or a read on where they stood now.
Kylee just watched the trees blur past her window, trying to suppress the fire still smoldering in her chest.
At home, the house smelled like cinnamon candles and fresh pepperoni pizza. There were streamers. Streamers, for God’s sake. She played the part laughing with the kids, sipping wine, unwrapping their little gifts, a drawing from Macy, a friendship bracelet from Jake Jr.
Jake leaned close to her later that night, after the kids had been tucked in. “It’s good to have you back, Ky.”
She gave a faint smile and nodded. “Yeah. It’s good to be home.”
But the words felt hollow. Jake handed her a fresh glass of wine and leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her with a hesitant smile.
“So,” he said, sipping his beer. “Tell me about your trip. You’ve been quiet since you got back.”
Kylee forced a small laugh, swirling the wine in her glass like she needed time to gather her thoughts or the perfect version of the truth.
“It was good,” she said, keeping her tone light. “The concert was… okay.”
“Just okay?” Jake raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
She nodded, settling into the lie. “Yeah, honestly, it was kind of a letdown. Rio was a total dick at the meet and greet. Rushed everyone. Barely looked at us.”
Jake smirked, seeming pleased. “Seriously? That guy always struck me as a diva.”
“Oh, he absolutely is.” Kylee took a slow sip of her wine, masking the sting of her own words. “Way too full of himself.”
Jake looked satisfied with that answer, and Kylee hated how easy it was to give it.
“What was your favorite part then?”
She smiled, this time genuinely. “The food,” she said. “Oh my god Café du Monde, beignets, shrimp po’boys. And Kelly, of course. She’s a riot. Kept me laughing the whole time.”
Jake nodded, relaxing. “Glad you had fun. You deserved it. Really.”
Kylee just gave him a quiet smile and nodded.
But inside…
She was still standing in the French Quarter, daiquiri in hand.
Still hearing Rio’s voice in her ear.
Still wondering what would’ve happened if she’d said yes….
Jake leaned against the counter, sipping his beer. “I’ve got another day off,” he said, trying to sound casual but with a hopeful lift in his voice. “I figured… maybe we could have a day just the two of us. I already asked Lillian to come after we drop Jake Jr. off. What do you think?”
Kylee turned slowly, her glass halfway to her lips. “A day?” Yeah. I thought we’d drive up to the lake. Maybe hike a little, grab lunch in town. Nothing crazy. Just us.” He stepped closer and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “We could use it, don’t you think?”
“Sure. That sounds… nice. “Nice, she repeated silently. That word again.
That night, after the kids were finally asleep and the dishes had been done, Kylee crawled into bed beside Jake, her body exhausted but her mind buzzing with static. The sheets smelled like lavender and something clean and familiar. Safe. Maybe too safe.
Jake slid in next to her, shirtless, warm, his hand grazing her thigh beneath the covers. “I missed this,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “Missed you.”
Kylee stiffened. His lips moved to her neck, slow and practiced. His fingers trailed down her side, exploring territory he once knew by heart. But now, it just felt…off. Like someone trying to read a book she’d already rewritten in her mind.
She turned slightly, giving a soft smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I’m really tired,” she whispered. “The trip and the travel caught up with me.”
Jake’s hand paused. “Oh.” He didn’t move right away, his breath warm against her skin. Then he rolled onto his back with a long, quiet sigh. “Okay. Yeah, of course.”
Kylee stared up at the ceiling, guilt pooling in her chest. She knew he noticed the change, the hesitation in her touch, the barrier she hadn’t tried to break. But she couldn’t fake it, not tonight. Maybe not ever again.
Next to her, Jake’s breathing slowed, drifting toward sleep. But Kylee stayed awake for a long time, tangled in sheets and unspoken truths, her heart still wandering Bourbon Street.
The next morning the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen as sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow across the countertops.
Lillian was already there, cheerfully wrangling the kids as they giggled over cereal. She shot Kylee a warm smile as she handed Macy a napkin.
Jake Jr. was zipping up his backpack, stomping around the house in his usual before school frenzy.
“You’re a saint, Lillian,” Kylee said, grateful as ever.
“Oh, please,” Lillian grinned. “I love these girls and I’m always happy for an excuse to get them all to myself.”
Jake came downstairs in jeans and a flannel, looking refreshed and unusually upbeat. “You ready?” he asked, kissing Kylee on the cheek.
“As I’ll ever be,” she smiled, tugging on her jacket.
The ride to Jake Jr.’s school was filled with the usual chatter reminders about his lunch, a promise that he could have extra screen time tonight if he was good, and a quick hug before he ran off.
Kylee watched him disappear into the school building with a bittersweet ache in her chest. Once he was gone, Jake turned to her with a grin. “Alright. Just you and me now.”
They drove with the windows down, letting the crisp Idaho air rush in.
The sky was wide and bright, the mountains in the distance layered with blue and green like a painting come to life.
Jake had the whole day planned a stop at a quiet hiking trail, lunch at a new farm-to-table spot, and maybe even a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard.
It was beautiful. Thoughtful. Sweet. But Kylee couldn't stop thinking about Rio. Every time Jake reached for her hand, her pulse stuttered. Not from nerves or excitement but from the aching truth that she didn’t feel what she used to.
She smiled, laughed at Jake’s jokes, leaned against him as they looked out over a scenic overlook…
and still, her thoughts wandered. To dark eyes watching her from the stage.
To a low voice in her ear. To what almost happened.
Jake was trying, and she owed it to him and to herself to try, too. Even if her heart hadn’t quite made it back from New Orleans.
The restaurant Jake had picked was tucked away on the edge of town, a charming little spot with wooden beams, mismatched chairs, and potted herbs hanging by the windows.
It smelled like roasted garlic and fresh bread, and the cozy ambiance made Kylee feel like she had stepped into someone’s farmhouse kitchen.
They were seated at a corner table by the window, sunlight spilling across the tablecloth. A server brought them two lemon waters and a small loaf of warm sourdough with honey butter.
Jake leaned back in his chair, looking proud of himself. “Told you this place was a hidden gem.”
Kylee smiled and tore off a piece of bread. “Okay, I admit it so far, you’re winning at planning dates.”
He grinned. “That’s right. I figured after your big trip, you’d want something a little quieter.”
Her smile twitched, and she kept her eyes on the butter. “Yeah. This is perfect.”
They ordered, she went with a local trout dish, and he got the smoked brisket sandwich. Jake was relaxed, talking about projects around the house he wanted to get done before fall, and asking if she wanted to go to the farmer’s market over the weekend.
Kylee nodded along, chiming in where she could, but her mind was drifting. She wasn’t bored, she just wasn’t there.
Every time Jake laughed, she remembered how Rio’s laugh felt like gravel and velvet.
Every time Jake’s foot brushed hers under the table, it reminded her of Rio’s hand on her lower back, the subtle heat that lingered for hours after.
She kept wondering what Rio was doing now.
Was he in LA already? On a plane? Fucking some girl because she didn’t give in?
Jake reached across the table and lightly touched her fingers. “You okay?”
She blinked. “Yeah sorry. Just… tired.”
He gave her a soft look. “Of course. You’ve been on the go nonstop. I’m glad you’re home, though.”
“Me too,” she said, and meant it, at least part of it.
But she also knew this wasn’t over. Something was still smoldering inside her, a hunger she hadn’t felt in years. And no amount of brunch or fresh air could blow it out.